Enzo Maresca reveals Chelsea transfer stance on Christopher Nkunku

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has emphatically rejected the possibility of selling Christopher Nkunku during the January transfer window.

The French forward started Chelsea's Premier League opener against Manchester City, but is yet to return to starting lineup of a top-flight match. Nkunku has been a fixture of every game in the Europa Conference League and the Carabao Cup this season, racking up ten goals across all competitions.

After a lack of Premier League game time, reports emerged earlier this month that Nkunku was considering a January exit. When Maresca was asked if his pricey back-up striker would be kept off the transfer list this winter, he sharply replied: "Absolutely, yes."

The Italian boss added: "We have so many games. I completely want Christo to stay with us; I don't have any idea to let him leave in January.

"I spoke to Christo days ago and he did not say he was unhappy. For sure, he would like to play minutes but [that is] like many players."

Maresca was speaking ahead of Chelsea's Conference League clash with German outfit Heidenheim on Thursday evening. While Nkunku's diminished status in the current squad ensures that he will almost certainly start at the Voith-Arena, some of Chelsea's star names have been spared from any participation in the competition's group stages.

Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia were left out of the Conference League squad to avoid overloading, while the likes of first-team regulars Noni Madueke, Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto are yet to see a single minute in the competition.

During the November international break, Nkunku played down speculation surrounding a rumoured move to Paris Saint-Germain, insisting that no approach had been made. Manchester United were surprisingly linked with a potential pursuit earlier this month, while the latest speculation revolves around a Bundesliga return with Borussia Dortmund.

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